August is named winner in GOP primary

Tyler August, left, and Adam Gibbs observe as the Walworth County Board of Canvass recounts ballots Wednesday for the 32nd Assembly Republican primary.

Dan Plutchak

As stack of ballots await recounting Wednesday by the Walworth County Board of Canvass.

ELKHORN  Tyler August of Walworth has been named winner of the Republican primary election in the 32nd Assembly District after a controversial recount that included two objections.

August, 27, trailed Adam Gibbs, 24, of Burlington by four votes before the recount, which began Wednesday. After the recount, August was credited with a three-vote victory, 1,760 votes to 1,757.

August gained three votes, two in Walworth County and one in Kenosha County. Gibbs lost four votes in Walworth County.

“I think it’s proof that the system is set up for a reason,” August said.

Gibbs, however, said the canvass board had a conflict of interest and was biased against him.

Three board members have close ties to August, who is a former board member himself, Gibbs said. One of the board members is from August’s hometown, and another is August’s campaign treasurer’s mother.

“I didn’t know that it would be so heavily stacked against me,” Gibbs said.

He said he objected on the record about the conflict of interest. He also objected to August’s petition for a recount, claiming it lacked the information required for the second canvass.

Gibbs said he was in favor of the recount to validate the election. He said he would not take legal action challenging the results.

August will face Democrat Doug Harrod of Genoa City, independent Daniel Kilkenny of Delavan and independent Rick Pappas of Fontana in November’s general election. He said he was already in general election campaign mode.

“I’ll be on the campaign trail first thing in the morning,” August said. “We’ve got five weeks to go. We have a real strong team in place.”

August said Gibbs was civil about the recount process. He said Gibbs worked hard, carried himself well and was in the race for the right reasons.

“We both want a Republican victory in November,” August said. “I really appreciate everything that he brought in to this race.”

Walworth County had to recount nearly 7,000 votes. The district includes the southern half of the county.

The recount was initially testy because Gibbs couldn’t be located. Election laws require all candidates receive notice before a recount begins.

August accused Gibbs of trying to delay the recount, but Gibbs said he was in Madison campaigning.

Michael Gibbs, the father and attorney for Adam Gibbs, also questioned whether members of the canvass board had a conflict of interest with August’s campaign.